NEARLY PERFECT FOOD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 83, 24 April 1937, Page 7

NEARLY PERFECT FOOD

^®6partment .of Health Bulletin) i '

Milk Contains Balanced Necessaries VALUE TO CHILDREN

.,There is not one food which fulfilsp all of the requirements of scientific1 nutrition. There is, in fact, only one food which even approaqhes perfeptipn..; If, therefore, you wish to enjoy a.w.ell-, balanced diet, which will maintain health and a favourable resistance t.o disease you must obtain this most nearly perfect food, together with certain Other foodstuffs, the -conibiiiatidul: •of whieh complies with all the speeifications for a correct diet.' Before revealing the seeret of the one most ' nearly perfect food, consider for a moment what such a food must do for you. It must contain protein to build your tissues and give bodily strength, it must have carbohydrates to furnish energy, it must possess minerals to form strong bones and teeth, and, finally, it must be liberally supplied with vitamins. These invisible chemical substances known as vitamins are of great importance to growth and the production and preservation of good health. Milk The one food which comes nearesfc to having every one of these necessary elements is milk. Throughout the ages it has been observed that those races whieh have been the most vigorous and long-li'ved have subsisted largely on a' diet of dairy pr.oducts. Milk contains fat, protein and sugar, the fat rich in, the growth and strengtk-promoting carbohydrate. Milk is likewise rich in such minerals as calcium and phosphorus which are essential to the .proper formation of bones. If a mother has plenty of good milk in her diet before her baby comes that child will usuaily have good teeth. If the child receives' plenty of pure milk during infancy its chances for growth and development are 1 of the best. Value to Children Proved "There is a wealth .of testimony as to the value of milk to the growing child, not merely in cases of sub-norma! nutrition, but also for normal children whose diet would ordinarily be regarded as satisf actory, " states the Chief Medical Officer, Board of Education, England, in his latest report on the health of the school child, To quote from a few reports only: "I am sure the children have greatly benefited by having milk at school, ' 5 states Dr. Cor-. bett, of Worcestershire. Dr. Clark, "The provision of milk in schools has resulted in an improvement in the health and mentality of the children taking. It is one of the greate3t steps ever taken for the improvement of the physique of children." A Dr. Macleod informs us: "Teachers report that ou the whole the school work has improved since children have received milk. Children granted free milk have, improved very mueh in general condition and nutrition. Paetieally all show an approach to normal in carriage and gait and an obvious gain in mentality. ' '' Another medical officer reports: "The benefit in some cases is very obvioua and some teachers say that the children' who fell asleep in class and who noW| receive free milk keep awake and ara mentally brighter in. every way." Dr. Hanson, from Comwall, reports: "Although th^e amount. of milk consumed per week is small it has an extremely beneficial effeet upon the children. They are more alert mentally and physically. Milk meals are especially valuable in rural schools where children walk long distances. " These comments are typical of many others of medical offieers and head teachers quoted in this report of Sir Arthur MacNalty. Such findings confirm the current opiuion as to the value of pure, fresh milk to tke growing child. There is a real relation between milk and health and growth.